View report page

23
A consideration of the foregoing statistical tables and clinical
observations, covering a period of 12 months, and embracing a large
number of cases, in our opinion sufficiently demonstrates the value of
anti-toxin in the treatment of Diphtheria.
It must be clearly understood, however, that to obtain the largest
measure of success with Anti-toxin it is essential that the patient be
brought under its influence at a comparatively early date—if possible not
later than the second day of disease. From this time onwards the chance
of a successful issue will diminish in proportion to the length of time
which has elapsed before the treatment is commenced. This, though
doubtless true of other methods, is of still greater moment in the case of
treatment, by Anti-toxin.
Certain secondary effects not infrequently arise as a direct result of the
injection of Anti-toxin in the form in which it has at present to be
administered, and even assuming that the incidence of the normal
complications of Diphtheria is greater than can be accounted for by the
increased number of recoveries, we have no hesitation in expressing the
opinion that these drawbacks are insignificant when taken in conjunction
with the lessened fatality which has been associated with the use of this
remedy.
We are further of opinion that in Anti.toxic Serum we possess a
remedy of distinctly greater value in the treatment of Diphtheria than any
other with which we are acquainted.
The fact that the treatment was successful in proportion
as it was adopted at an early stage of the disease, is very
clearly shown by the statistics given.
Of the 86 treated with Anti-toxin on the first day of the
disease only 4, or 4.6 per cent., and of 403 treated on the
second dav, 60, or 14.8 succumbed, the rate rising to 357
per cent. in those treated after the fifth day; while in 1894,
of 133 admitted on the first day of the disease, 30 or 22.5
per cent.; and of 539 admitted on the second day, 146, or
27 per cent., died, the rate rising to 31.6 per cent. in those
admitted after the fourth day.
But the report of the Medical Superintendent of the
Northern Hospital which is appended to the general
report, is a still more striking illustration of the value of
Anti-toxin, especially, when used in the early stages of the
disease. He states that of 119 cases of post-scarlatinal
Diphtheria occurring in this hospital, 58 (being the severer
cases) were treated with Anti-toxin, of which on vour
died.